Australians feel left in the dark by major brands

A new survey from international development group Oxfam suggests three-quarters of Australians feel left in the dark by major brands, including Kellogg's and Kraft.

The poll was released on the same day the group released its Behind the Brands report which ranks the world's top 10 food and drink companies on how they make their products and how they operate in poorer countries.

It ranked Nestle's performance the best, followed by Unilever - which produces Liptons, Flora and Bushells - with Coca Cola and Pepsico coming next.

Kellogg's was rated second-worst for poor ethical policies, land rights and lack of support for farmers and workers.

But it was Associated British Foods, the group behind Twinings, Ovaltine and Tip Top, that was given the worst ranking.

Oxfam Australia chief executive Dr Helen Szoke said brands were using the world's hungriest people to make their products.

"The findings revealed the world's 10 most powerful food and drink companies, that produce our most iconic brands like Kellogg's and Vegemite, are overly secretective about where products come from and how they are made," she said.

QUICK FIGURES

A survey from international development group Oxfam suggests Aussies want to know more about where their food and products come from.

It found:

75% said there was too little information on where products came from, how they were made.

84% want more of this information on their groceries.

47% said they would pay more if confident it was ethically created.

Kellogg's was perceived as Australia's most ethical brand, but was rated second-worst on Oxfam's report into company behaviour.